PULLMAN, Wash. - Nine matches against teams that participated in the last season's NCAA Soccer Championship highlight the 2009 Washington State University soccer schedule as announced by Cougar Head Coach Matt Potter, Tuesday.

Washington State, which earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship last fall without a senior on the squad, opens the 2009 campaign against Idaho in Pullman, Aug. 21.

"I believe our schedule gives us every opportunity to build on the NCAA selection of last fall and allows us to compete against some of the elite programs in the nation," Potter said. "We have continued to progress in our spring training. With no graduating seniors, I believe the test of this fall is a reward for our players, especially for our seniors who have a chance to leave a true mark on the program. This year is the 20th anniversary of Cougar soccer and the schedule we have put together gives us the stage to make it truly something to remember."

Other home dates include BYU (NCAA Second Round in 2008), Sept. 10 and Weber State, Sept. 25 in nonconference play as well as Stanford (NCAA Semifinal in 2008), Oct. 23, California (NCAA First Round in 2008), Oct. 25, USC (NCAA Third Round in 2008), Nov. 6 and UCLA (NCAA Semifinal in 2008), Nov. 8 in Pacific-10 action.

On the road in nonconference, the Cougars will play in the Colorado College Invitational against Syracuse, Aug. 28 and at Colorado College, Aug. 30. WSU will also play at Gonzaga, Sept. 3, Florida State (NCAA Quarterfinal in 2008), Sept. 6, Texas (NCAA Second Round in 2008), Sept. 18, Stephen F. Austin, Sept. 20, Portland (NCAA Quarterfinal in 2008), Oct. 4 and Seattle, Oct. 11.

"In the nonconference, we have all games that allow us no margin for error," Potter said. "Florida State, BYU, Texas and Portland are perennial nationally-ranked teams and consistently some of the best programs in the nation. Colorado College, Gonzaga and Weber State are programs consistently looking to compete for conference titles and NCAA berths. Idaho, Syracuse, Stephen F. Austin and Seattle are programs on the rise under the direction of some great coaches who very well could compete at the top of their conferences this fall."